This article from the Journal of the Printing Historical Society details the history of phototypesetting at Monotype, focusing on their transition from hot metal to photographic composition. It covers the initial reluctance to embrace the new technology, driven by a significant investment in hot metal, and the eventual development of filmsetters like the Monophoto, Lasercomp, and Linotron 202. The piece highlights the technical challenges overcome, the evolution of font design and storage for photographic systems, and the ultimate impact of these innovations on the printing industry, marking a significant shift away from traditional methods.
This post compares the layout models of TeX and Typst, two typesetting systems. TeX uses a box, glue, and penalty model, where content is placed in boxes, connected by flexible glue, and broken into lines/pages based on penalties assigned to different breaks. This system, while powerful and time-tested, can be complex and unintuitive. Typst, in contrast, uses a flow model where content flows naturally into frames, automatically reflowing based on the available space. This offers greater simplicity and flexibility, especially for complex layouts, but sacrifices some fine-grained control compared to TeX's explicit breakpoints and penalties. The author concludes that while both systems are effective, Typst's flow-based model presents a more modern and potentially easier-to-grasp approach to typesetting.
HN commenters largely praised the article for its clear explanation of layout models in TeX and Typst. Several noted the helpful visualizations and the clear comparisons between the two systems. Some discussed the trade-offs between the flexibility of TeX and the predictability of Typst, with some expressing interest in Typst's approach for certain use cases. One commenter pointed out that the article didn't cover all of TeX's complexities, which the author acknowledged. There was also a brief discussion about the potential for combining aspects of both systems.
This blog post explores using eqn, a pre-troff equation formatter, to generate MathML for static websites. The author details their process of converting eqn syntax to MathML using geqn and groff, emphasizing its simplicity and suitability for static site generation. They highlight eqn's ease of use compared to LaTeX and demonstrate the process with a practical example, showcasing the conversion steps and the resulting rendered MathML embedded in HTML. This approach allows for maintainable, human-readable equation source files while leveraging standard tools to produce accessible and widely compatible mathematical expressions on the web.
HN users largely praised the simplicity and elegance of using eqn for math rendering, particularly in contrast to MathJax or LaTeX. Several appreciated the author's demonstration of a straightforward, lightweight approach for static sites, avoiding JavaScript dependencies. Some discussed the limitations of eqn, such as lack of support for more complex equations and symbols, while others offered alternative tools like KaTeX and MathML. One user pointed out potential accessibility issues and suggested investigating MathML for better screen reader compatibility. The overall sentiment favored eqn for its ease of use in simple scenarios, but acknowledged the need for more robust solutions for complex mathematical content.
Summary of Comments ( 2 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43294816
Hacker News users discuss the linked PDF, which details the history of Monotype's involvement with phototypesetting. Several commenters express fascination with the technical details of early phototypesetting machines, particularly the challenges of achieving high-quality output and the ingenious mechanical solutions employed. Some lament the loss of the aesthetic qualities of hot metal type in the transition to phototypesetting, while others appreciate the increased speed and flexibility the newer technology offered. A few commenters share personal anecdotes about working with Monotype equipment, providing firsthand accounts of the era. The discussion also touches upon the broader historical context of the printing industry's shift from analog to digital processes.
The Hacker News post titled "Monotype and Phototypesetting (2000) [pdf]" (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43294816) has a modest number of comments, offering some interesting perspectives on the linked document and its historical context.
One commenter highlights the irony of Monotype, a company deeply rooted in hot metal typesetting, ultimately playing a significant role in the transition to phototypesetting, a technology that would largely supersede its original business. They see this as an example of a company successfully navigating disruptive technological change.
Another comment focuses on the enduring legacy of Monotype's fonts, particularly Times New Roman, which despite its association with older technologies, remains a widely recognized and utilized typeface. This commenter emphasizes the lasting impact of well-designed typefaces.
A further comment draws attention to Hermann Zapf's involvement with Monotype and his contributions to typographic design. Zapf's work is acknowledged as highly influential in the field. This comment also mentions the Palatino typeface, another creation of Zapf's, and its association with high-quality printing.
One commenter expresses a general appreciation for historical documents like the one linked, finding them valuable for understanding the evolution of technology.
The remaining comments are shorter and less substantive. One simply expresses interest in reading the document later, another mentions the related history of Linotype machines, and a final comment provides a link to a related Wikipedia page about the Monotype composition caster.
In summary, the comments on the Hacker News post primarily revolve around the historical significance of Monotype's role in the printing industry's transition to phototypesetting, the enduring popularity of its fonts, the contributions of notable figures like Hermann Zapf, and a general appreciation for historical documentation of technological advancements. While not a large number of comments, they offer concise and relevant insights into the topic.